Shloka 40
Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)
शुभाशुभफल प्रेत्य लभते भूतसाक्षिकम् | अतिरिच्येत यो यत्र तत्कर्ता लभते फलम्,मनुष्य शुभ और अशुभ जो कर्म करता है, उसके पाँच महाभूत साक्षी होते हैं। उन शुभ और अशुभ कर्मोका फल मृत्युके पश्चात् उसे प्राप्त होता है। उन दोनों प्रकारके कर्मोंमें जो अधिक होता है, उसीका फल कर्ताको प्राप्त होता है
śubhāśubha-phalaṁ pretya labhate bhūta-sākṣikam | atiricyeta yo yatra tat-kartā labhate phalam ||
វ្យាសៈបានមានព្រះវាចា៖ បន្ទាប់ពីស្លាប់ មនុស្សទទួលផលនៃកុសល និងអកុសលរបស់ខ្លួន ដោយមានមហាភូតទាំងប្រាំជាសាក្សី។ ហើយក្នុងពីរនោះ—បុណ្យ និងបាប—អ្វីដែលលើសលប់នៅករណីណា អ្នកធ្វើនឹងទទួលផលតាមនោះជាចម្បង។
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions have inevitable consequences that mature after death; the cosmos itself—symbolized by the five great elements—bears witness, and the predominant weight of one’s merit or demerit determines the chief result experienced.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Vyāsa states a principle of karmic accounting: good and bad deeds are witnessed by the elements and yield their fruits in the post-mortem state, with the stronger side (good or evil) shaping the outcome.